Last year, three Austin breweries—Central District Brewing, Pinthouse Pizza and St. Elmo Brewing Co.—took home Great American Beer Festival gold medals for their entry beers. Overall, 16 Texas breweries were awarded prizes for their brews at last year’s festival.
In 2020, the decades-old beer festival elected to hold all of its events online Oct. 16-17 for a reduced entry fee.
For $20, attendees can purchase a Great American Beer Festival passport, a ticket that grants access to the festival’s calendar of panels, classes and the award ceremony. While the festival this year will be streamed from homes across the world, attendees can participate with their local breweries through the passport.
Holders of the festival’s passport can visit participating breweries to access discounts and specials.
In the Austin area, more than a dozen local breweries are participating in the Great American Beer Festival passport program. Listed here are local breweries where passport holders through Oct. 18 can grab specials on craft beer and virtually attend the 2020 Great American Beer Festival.
4th Tap Brewing Co-Op
10615 Metric Blvd., Austin
www.4thtap.coop
Customers enjoy a 10% discount on all merchandise at 4th Tap through the weekend.
Acopon Brewing Co.
211 W. Mercer St., Dripping Springs
www.acoponbrewing.com
Acopon Brewing is giving a 20% discount on pours of pints at its Dripping Springs taproom, with an additional deal on select merchandise.
Adelbert’s Brewery
2314 Rutland Drive, Ste. 100, Austin
www.adelbertsbeer.com
The North Austin brewery is offering a free can of its beer to customers that hold the Great American Beer Festival passport.
Barking Armadillo Brewing
507 River Bend, Georgetown
www.barkingarmadillo.com
Barking Armadillo, which first started pouring its beer for customers in March, has a buy-one-get-one special on pints at its taproom. The Georgetown brewery is also offering 10% off its merchandise.
Blue Owl Brewing
2400 E. Cesar Chavez St., Ste. 300, Austin
www.blueowlbrewing.com
Austin’s sour beer masters are offering passport holders a 20% discount on merchandise and a 30% discount on all growler fills at the brewery.
Family Business Beer Co.
19510 Hamilton Pool Road, Dripping Springs
www.acoponbrewing.com
Passport holders get a 10% discount off their entire beer tab at Family Business, which specializes in traditional English ales.
Hold Out Brewing
1208 W. Fourth St., Austin
www.holdoutbrewing.com
Hold Out Brewing, one of Austin’s newest breweries, is releasing the first beer in its “Hard in the Paint” series. Passport holders will have the opportunity to purchase limited edition artwork with the purchase of a four-pack of the special release beer.
Independence Brewing Co.
3913 Todd Lane, Ste. 607, Austin
www.independencebrewing.com
South Austin’s Independence Brewing Co. is giving passport holders discounts on merchandise and buy-one-get-one free crowlers.
Jester King Brewery
13187 Fitzhugh Road, Austin
www.jesterkingbrewery.com
Jester King is offering 15% off its online beer to-go orders. Passport holders will also have access to reserved seating at the Southwest Austin brewery.
Last Stand Brewing Co.
12345 Pauls Valley Road, Bldg. J, Austin
www.laststandbrewing.com
Passport holders get a discount on beer at Last Stand, located in Southwest Austin.
Pinthouse Pizza
4729 Burnet Road, Austin
4236 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin
2800 Hoppe Trail, Round Rock
www.pinthousepizza.com
At all three of its current locations in Austin and Round Rock, Pinthouse Pizza is giving passport holders a $2 discount on a flight of its Great American Beer Festival medal entries.
Real Ale Brewing Co.
231 San Saba Court, Blanco
www.realalebrewing.com
Passport holders visiting Real Ale get a 10% discount on the brewery’s entries to the Great American Beer Festival through October. The brewery is also giving out free sticker packs with all curbside beer to-go orders during the Oct. 16 weekend.
San Gabriel River Brewery
500 Chaparral Drive, Liberty Hill
www.sangabrielriverbrewery.com
San Gabriel River Brewing is giving passport holders a 50% on its set of 4-5-ounce tasters.
Texas Beer Co.
201 N. Main St., Taylor
www.texasbeerco.com
Taylor’s Texas Beer Co. is offering one free beer to all Great American Beer Festival passport holders, with additional discounts on merchandise and six packs.
Texas Cannon Brewing Co.
307 4th St., Blanco
www.texascannonbrewing.com
The new Texas Cannon Brewing Co. is giving a commemorative pint glass to the first 100 passport holders who visit the brewery. The brewery is further giving a 15% discount on beer and merchandise.
Vacancy Brewing
415 E. St. Elmo Road, Ste. 1-D2, Austin
www.vacancybrewing.com
Passport holders can get a sneak peek of the upcoming Vacancy Brewing with exclusive tours Oct. 17 and 18. The yet-to-open South Austin brewery is further giving participants a 20% discount on merchandise.
Vista Brewing
13551 FM 150, Driftwood
www.vistabrewingtx.com
Driftwood’s Vista Brewing is pouring a free 4-ounce sample of any of its beers to passport holders. The brewery is also giving a 50% discount off pints and beer flights,and is providing passport holders exclusive access to a limited-release beer.
